Peru is not only the Machu Picchu and the Incas, during the 8 weeks we have spent in this country we have known and learned many things. The route began in the region of Puno, we cross the border with Bolvia around Lake Titicaca. At that time we were sick, with a kind … Read more
How to get:
The cheapest option is to drive your own vehicle to the hydroelectric power station (the closest point to which you can get driving). That means about 180 km of curves from Cusco, by paved road till Santa Maria, then 25 km of dirt road of a single lane to Santa Teresa, and finally, 10 km of bad road, where many travelers have damaged their car. Then walk 10km (2-3 hours) to MachuPicchu town (also known as Aguas Calientes) and finally climb 1.5km up stairs to MachuPicchu.
There are hundreds of archaeological sites in Peru, many civilizations have chosen this country to live. In the last weeks we have visited some of them and here we are going to show them to you.
It is considered the oldest city in the entire American continent, dating from the year 3,000 BC, approximately from the same time that the pyramids of Egypt were built. It is formed by 6 pyramidal constructions (pyramids), 2 sunken squares (amphitheaters) and several other spaces, occupying an area of 66 hectares. Unfortunately, despite its historical importance, we do not know much more about this place or this culture.
Bolivia is unfortunately a not really known country.
So far it is the country with the biggest cultural shock we have noticed.
We entered in Bolivia crossing the Andes, exactly through the Ollagüe Pass, located in the middle of nowhere and apparent not that crowded … there, no one was really interest in us. The customs officer who reviewed our passports didn’t look at us at all, but he only gave us 30 days of stay in the country, something that we found very strange because in all others countries we are always authorize to stay 3 months. The other officer in charge of the papers of the car (TIP) gave us the 3 months, and he checked Cactus only from the back doors … and that’s how we got into the desired Bolivia!
We decided to drive to the north of the continent through Argentina instead of Chile. We pass through the provinces of Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja, Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta and Jujuy. And then we went back to Chile to visit San Pedro de Atacama, place famous for owning the driest desert in the world.
This ceremony, called “Capac cocha” in Quechua, consisted of the fact that once a year, at harvest time, each village sent the most beautiful and intelligent children on pilgrimage to Cusco, the capital of the Incas. Once there they were “blessed “and had to return to their homes, and the ones who managed to get till there, were sacrificed in a great ritual.
After about 1 month of break, we are back on the road. Cactus is better than ever, we have made enough improvements and a great set-up for what is coming, which is not less if we want to reach Colombia in 6 months !!
